Air Transat fined for hours long tarmac delays
Air Transat has been hit with a $295,000 penalty for failing its customers who were stuck on two delayed planes for hours.
The Canadian Transportation Agency ordered the airline to pay the penalty to the 590 passengers stuck on planes at Ottawa for nearly five and six hours respectively.
This is over and above out-of-pocket expenses accrued by the stranded passengers who were stuck on the tarmac in sweltering conditions.
The two jets were diverted to Ottawa en route to Montreal from Brussels and Rome as the airline and airport blamed each other for the marathon tarmac delays.
Passengers at an earlier inquiry described conditions as ‘deplorable’ and CTA concluded cabin crew were not properly aware of the airline’s legal obligation to passengers during tarmac delays.
The agency said passengers had requested food and drink and by not supplying it Air Transat was in breach of its legal obligation.
"There is no basis for any argument that the carrier is not responsible for non-performance of its obligations," the CTA report said.
The incident has sparked much media attention and has been the catalyst – along with the United Airlines dragging scandal – for a full passenger bill of rights which the federal government is introducing at the moment.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements